Volunteering index: co-operatives dedicating time to communities

During 2013, the top co-operatives reported close to 290,000 volunteer hours from their staff. But this will still not be the full picture of the sector, since only...

During 2013, the top co-operatives reported close to 290,000 volunteer hours from their staff.

But this will still not be the full picture of the sector, since only seven out of 20 consumer-facing co-ops have reported the figure.

Volunteering is a part of British society, according to the government’s Community Life Survey that found 74% of people had volunteered at least once over a period of 12 months during 2013-14.

At a business level, a Gallup poll showed organisations with “high employee engagement” had 3.9 times more earnings-per-share growth than their counterparts with “low employee engagement”. These same employees worked 57% harder and were 87% more likely to stay with the business. In other words “engaged employees mean a more productive company”.

In the co-operative sector, the Co-operative Group was one of the highest contributors of volunteer hours. Throughout 2013 a total of 13,966 employees took part in community activities during work time, contributing the equivalent of 12,775 days (an increase from 10,558 in 2012) or 95,810 hours. This represents a donation of time worth £1.3m. Employees have also volunteered in their communities through team challenges.

Over 100 team challenges took place in 2013, benefiting 78 schools and community organisations in the UK. To increase engagement levels, the Group is now introducing a community pioneer scheme in each of its stores to encourage staff to play an active role in their local communities.

In November last year Lois McClure won the intermediate apprentice of the year category at the National Apprenticeship Awards. Lois (20) is a team administrator in the membership team of the Co-operative Groups and she is also part of the Group’s apprenticeship ambassador group. As part of the apprentice ambassador group, she is involved in volunteering and fundraising for charities and promoting apprenticeships across the UK to young people. She is also vice chair of the Group’s young members’ board.

Group staff can mentor a young person from one of the Co-operative’s academies or become a STEM ambassador and inspire young people to consider a career in science technology. Through the Co-operative Booster Fund, colleagues fundraising on their own, if they raise a minimum of £100, the Group will donate £100 to their chosen charity. For colleagues fundraising in a team, if they raise a minimum of £400, the Group will donate £400 to their chosen charity.

Organisation nameEmployeesVolunteering timeTotal Financial valueMinutes of volunteering per employee (2013)(2012)
The largest UK consumer co-operatives
Midcounties Co-operative963244,000 hours£644,000274.1245.5
Lincolnshire Co-operative28096,544 hours139.80102
Southern Co-operative39824,800 hours£115,00072.3061.5
Co-operative Group8695395,810 hours66.1036
The largest other UK co-operatives
RCT Homes3591,350 hours225.60n/a
John Lewis81900136,000 hours£3,760,50799.6012.4
Simplyhealth17151,455 hours50.9080
Total187350289,959 hours92.90

impact-index1Read more … Concern for the community: find out how co-operatives perform in the Community Impact Index: www.thenews.coop/impact

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